FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ? Online casino GoldenPalace.com added another piece of history to their impressive collection of eccentric historical items with their latest eBay purchase, the bathtub that James Earl Ray was standing in when he shot Martin Luther King in 1968. The bathtub was sold for $7,600.

Memphis judge D'Army Bailey, the seller of the tub, is one of the founders of the National Civil Rights Museum located at the site of King's death. He bought the tub in 1983 when the former rooming house was being renovated.

Bailey first tried to sell the tub on eBay in 2004. Although the bid price went up to $152,000, eBay removed it because it might be considered offensive, particularly by King's family. The auction site then decided that it met their criteria for historical artifacts and allowed to be put back up for auction.

Bailey said he has been assured the casino will treat the tub "with sensitivity for its historical significance."

A portion of the purchase price for the bathtub will go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, Inc., whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth.

?We are proud to have bought this piece of American history and help a worthy cause by doing so,? said GoldenPalace.com CEO Richard Rowe. ?Martin Luther King continues to touch people?s lives, and we will treat this item with respect worthy of his memory and legacy.?

Setting the standard in marketing creativity, GoldenPalace.com has devised some of the most exciting and outrageous advertising campaigns in the past few years. Items such as the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Britney Spears? Pregnancy Test, and William Shatner?s Kidney Stone have garnered extensive worldwide media attention for the casino. GoldenPalace.com has also used their items and marketing reach to raise awareness and over $1,000,000 for various charities worldwide.

Comments on this eventOn April 03rd, 2006 at 4:33 PM goldengirl1985 said:

a great collection to your already outstanding collections of great people........Dead or Alive... Marting Luther King was a great man and a very admired one... Awesome..GGOn August 19th, 2006 at 11:29 AM aldunn said:

Hey I know someone who can restore that for you and make it look less nasty and scummy.